DUFFY'S ALBION TARGET

New Brighton & Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy believes that an up-and-down final few games at Blackburn will help him become a better player, and now he wants to better last season’s goal tally.

It's been well documented that the 24-year-old has had a memorable fortnight for very different reasons. He scored the winner in Tuesday’s EFL Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra, that coming after two own goals and being sent-off in his previous league game against Cardiff. He also scored another own goal before that game at Wigan.

He told seagulls.co.uk, “I don’t know if I can describe it. Against Wigan, I scored my first own goal, carried on to get sent off after I had scored another two against Cardiff. I don’t think you would write it in a script!

“In terms of why I was making those mistakes, it was my own fault because I shouldn’t have let the transfer speculation get to me - but it was the first time where I’ve been in that situation.

“I’ve learned from it and it’s going to make me a better player because I won’t make those mistakes again, and it’s what makes you a footballer. You have yours ups and downs. That was a down and I’ll get over it.

“I pride myself on goals at the right end. I want to better my tally of five from last year - I could’ve had ten from the chances I had - so my aim is to be more clinical at set pieces this season, but the first thing is to try and get into the team, as it’s a strong squad here.

“I feel I can be a threat from set-pieces and that with the players we’ve got here and their ability from set plays, hopefully I can beat my total from last year and get a few more.”